sylvia, i have just been reading your book, quite an interesting life you have lead,going to school in a castle! we do not have old-old buildings in the u.s.
my daughter lived in germany for a couple years, and she visited some old castles, and sent me loads of pictures,i love looking at the old barns the germans built here in the states,i believe they were the first ones to use stone, and those buildings are still standing.
it sounds like you gave your children a very nice upbringing, even if you did it alone.
waiting for the next chapter,jeni